The Rolling Stones announce dates for "50 & Counting…"

By J. Alan Hayes

Thu, Oct 18th 2012 4:48 pm EDT

After months of speculation, The Rolling Stones have recently confirmed an upcoming tour in celebration of their 50th anniversary called "50 & Counting… The Rolling Stones Live." The legendary rock band announced the confirmation through their official website on October 15, 2012, promising a "truly must see and hear experience, with integral video screens and effects enhancing the sort of high-octane adventure for which the band's concerts have been famous for decades."

As of now, only four dates have been announced for the tour, but high-demand may lead to more shows. The Rolling Stones scheduled their first two shows at the O2 Arena in London, performing on Sunday, November 25, and Thursday, November 29, 2012. Following these UK performances, the Stones will travel back to America where they will play at Newark's Prudential Center, in Newark, NJ, on Thursday, December 13, and Saturday, December 15, with both shows beginning at 8:00 p.m.

In an interview for Rolling Stone, Keith Richards said, "The boys are cooking in the back room, see you all in the front room very soon." This will be the first time that the Rolling Stones have performed publicly together since their "Bigger Bang Tour" of 2007. To commemorate their anniversary and the upcoming tour, the band has recently released "Doom and Gloom," their first new studio recording since 2005.

"50 & Counting…The Rolling Stones Live" is being produced by Virgin Live, a collaboration between Virgin founder Richard Branson and tour promoter Paul Dainty. In news release via the Rolling Stones' website, Dainty said, "I've worked with the Rolling Stones for many years and I still get a buzz every time I see them live; these four shows are without doubt a must-see event. I am extremely excited about this collaboration with Virgin. There will be a lot more to say about Virgin Live soon but, for now, it's all about the Stones."

In preparation for the concerts, the Rolling Stones have reportedly been practicing about 60 songs for the shows, and Mick Jagger told the UK's "Evening Standard" that the band has even contacted ex-bassist Bill Wyman in regards to making a guest appearance. The Stones have also recently released a photo of a handwritten list of songs via Twitter, sparking some speculation that it is their set-list for the upcoming performances. The list is comprised of 23 songs, including classics like "Beast of Burden," "Paint It Black," and "You Can't Always Get What You Want."

A presale of tickets for the London shows began on Monday, October 15, with the general on-sale opening Friday, October 19. Presale for the Newark shows starts the following day, October 20, with that general sale opening Friday, October 26, at 12:00 p.m. EST. For those unable to obtain tickets, the final show of the four-night tour, December 15 in Newark, will be broadcast live and available via pay-per-view. This occasion will be called "One More Shot," and broadcast by World Wrestling Entertainment.